Archive for February, 2010

Style tip? In 1990, Madonna introduced the world to underwear as outerwear with her iconic cone bra. Twenty years later, lingerie is still inspiring the world of sportswear. Case in point? Alexander Wang’s lingerie-meets-tailored suit look, which mixes feminine lace with masculine fabrications and tailoring. Then again, the lingerie influence need not be quite that overt. Cynthia Steffe suggested frilly underthings with a fitted ivory dress full of tiny pleats. And Herve Leger’s body conscious look merely outlined the bodice and skirt suggestively. How to wear lingerie & lace inspired looks in real life? We love the mix of masculine and feminine - a lacy cami under a structured blazer, a slip-type skirt with something more tailored up top. The key is to suggest rather than to show.What do you think? How would you wear lingerie & lace inspired looks? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Style tip? What’s the easiest way to transform your look? One word: accessories. And the accessory of choice this season appears to be the hat. Designers used fantastic hats as a way to transport this season’s looks to other places - whether it’s decades past (as at Behnaz Sarafpour), mythology (a la Charlotte Ronson’s Arabian Nights), or Marc by Marc Jacobs’ modern cowboy.What do you think? How would you wear Fantastic Hats? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Style tip? Sometimes all you want to do is to cocoon up when it’s cold out. When that happens, you have a variety of options for keeping cozy. Try a cape (belted, if you want to show off your figure) over something form fitting on the bottom. Or drape yourself in a big, cozy coat, as seen at Preen. Or just wrap yourself in a snuggly shrug, as at Cynthia Steffe. PS - for all of us petite women, this is probably the easiest to pull off.What do you think? How would you cocoon? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Style tip? Calf grazing skirts aren’t naturally the most flattering cut, as most womens’ optimal skirt length is at or around the knee. But what these calf grazing skirts lack in figure flattery, they compensate in retro, Hitchcock heroine appeal. The key to wearing these calf grazing skirts without looking matronly is to keep the silhouette of the skirt slim, like an exaggerated pencil skirt. Finish the look off up top with a wildly patterned blouse, as at Costello Tagliapietra, or a perfectly tailored bodice, as at Marc Jacobs. What kind of shoes to wear with calf grazing skirts? Heels, of course, to create the longest, leanest leg line possible.What do you think? How would you wear calf grazing skirts? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Style tip? If there’s one color that defines Fall 2010, it has to be black. In a season of neutrals, dark colors, and understated tones, black is refined, it’s sophisticated, and it’s supremely chic. Forget the simple Little Black Dress - opt for one with an interesting detail or silhouette, like the asymmetric banding and draping on the Narciso Rodriguez dress. Or spice up your black with a shot of color, as at Diane von Furstenberg. Or keep your look head to toe black, but mix it up by combining different textures - rough and smooth, shiny with matte, and so forth - as the bohemian look at Charlotte Ronson.What do you think? How would you wear black? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Style tip? The beauty of belts are how they can help create a silhouette. For those of you with defined waists, the belt can reinforce your hourglass silhouette. And for those of you with a more boyish, up-and-down shape, the belt can create the illusion of a defined waist. Wear your belt slung low, as at VPL, or up high (and even over your coat!) as at Marc by Marc Jacobs. Or use a belt to create visual interest in an otherwise monochromatic outfit, as at Proenza Schouler.What do you think? How would you wear a belt? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Style tip? Purple is coming in all shapes, sizes, and hues this season. Try, if you dare, a bright shiny purple, a la Phillip Lim’s dashing cocktail dress. Or opt for a softer shade of purple, as at Luca Luca and Erin Fetherston. Whatever the shade, purple looks positively polished on simple silhouettes. Just let the color shine.What do you think? How would you wear purple? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Style tip? When it’s crazy out and you’re looking to cocoon, what could be a more comfortable choice than a cozy knit? Drape yourself in a patchwork of knits, as Yigal Azrouel does (left). Or go for a dramatic draped collar, as seen at Lela Rose. Want to just keep things simple? You can pair multiple knits in the same outfit, as Cynthia Steffe did with a cropped sweater and over-the-knee schoolgirl socks. What do you think? How would you wear cozy knits? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Style tip? Green’s not just for Spring. You’ll be wearing this hue come Fall, in more muted shades. What to pair with green? Try grey (as seen at Tracy Reese, with a grey infinity scarf and tights, and at Monique Lhuillier, where grey tones down a look full of beading and shine). But don’t discount the beauty of brown. While we wouldn’t advocate wearing the VPL swimsuit outfit around town, we love how the warm brown booties and belt pair with the forest green cardigan. What do you think? How would you wear green? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Style tip? We’ve got another fashion trend that you don’t have to wait to wear. Shorts are huge for Spring, and they’ll be just as relevant come Fall (just in thicker fabrics, of course). How to wear shorts in cooler temperatures? Pair them with boots, tights, or high socks to keep your legs covered. If you have great legs, you can manage the short shorts (as seen at Tracy Reese and Charlotte Ronson), but an easier silhouette to wear is the knee-length short. Look for cuffed knee-length shorts for a fresh Fall/Winter look. What do you think? How would you wear shorts? Share your thoughts in the comments!